Gift Ideas For The Geek In Your Life

The upcoming holiday season may just be the best ever for my fellow geeks. Whether you’re hoping for some hot new components for your existing system, a new camera, some new speakers, or maybe even a new mobile device or laptop, there is a myriad of good stuff already sitting on store shelves, just waiting to be gobbled up by holiday shoppers.

With so many products out there, from some good and not-so-good manufacturers, you or your significant other may be overwhelmed by the sheer number of options available. But don’t fret! We’ve rounded up an assortment of what are sure to be some of the hottest devices this holiday season and have them posted for you right here. We’ve got some slick laptops from Lenovo and Apple, mobile devices from Asus and HTC, a Nikon DSLR camera, a Bose SoundLink, and a few PC components from Intel and Asus.

Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga

The Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga is one of the most innovative ultrabooks yet. This thin and light machine sports Microsoft’s latest operating system—Windows 8—along with a 13.3” multi-touch capable touchscreen and a clever hinge design that allows the Yoga to function as a traditional notebook or tablet. The hinge allows for some other useful modes too, like “tent” and “stand” modes, which give users the ability to stand the machine up in a variety of circumstances and use it with one hand. Perhaps best of all, the Lenovo Yoga is also outfitted with a fast Intel processor and a speedy solid state drive, which result in excellent performance as well.

Nikon D3100

If you want to take great pictures, you’ll need a good camera with quality optics, a high-resolution sensor, and the speed to capture fast-action shots. The Nikon D3100 DSLR delivers on all counts. The D3100 features a 14.2 megapixel sensor, includes a NIKKOR VR 18-55mm lens, and can capture images at up to 3 frames per second. The Nikon D3100 also has a fast, 11-point autofocus system and the ability to shoot full 1080P HD video (with audio).

13.3" MacBook Pro with Retina Display

We already know that Apple makes some of the best looking hardware on the market. But when you pair a gorgeous 13.3” MacBook Pro, powered by a fast Intel Core i5 processor and SSD, with an ultra-high resolution Retina LED-backlit display with IPS technology, you know you’ve got a clear winner. Not only is the 13.3" MacBook Pro with Retina Display stylish and highly mobile, but it’s powerful, offers excellent battery life, and its screen is simply stunning.

HTC Windows Phone 8X 4G

Windows Phone 8 is poised to make a big splash this holiday season, thanks in no small part to excellent devices like the HTC 8X. Not only does this baby sport Microsoft’s latest mobile operating system, but it’s got a 4.3” 720P screen, a fast dual core processor, a microSD expansion card slot and 4G connectivity. Consumers considering a new smartphone that aren’t smitten with iOS or Android, may be intrigued by the unique, fluid interface of Windows Phone 8 and its synergy with Windows RT and Windows 8.

ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity

When we reviewed the ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity, we praised its performance, features, and aesthetics and ultimately gave the device an Editor’s Choice award. Competition in the tablet space is fierce, but few devices can rival the features and capabilities of the Transformer Pad Infinity, especially when it is paired to its keyboard dock accessory, and Asus’ support for the device has been excellent. If you’re in the market for an Android-based tablet, the ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity is absolutely worth a look.

ASUS 27-Inch Wide Screen Flat Panel LED HD Monitor

If you haven’t heard us say it before, listen up! Upgrading to a large, high-resolution monitor is one of the most effective ways to enhance your computing experience, and potentially improve your productivity too. Oh, and it’s pretty cool for gaming too. To that end, the ASUS VE278Q-B sports a bodacious 27” LED-backlit LCD with plenty of screen real-estate and a full HD resolution of 1920x1080. The ASUS VE278Q-B also has VGA, DVI, and HDMI inputs, which make it compatible with virtually all PCs, laptops, and game consoles, and the VE278Q-B‘s built-in speakers may come in handy too.

Intel 520 Series 180GB SSD

We have said time again that moving to a solid state drive is one of the most effective upgrades possible. Solid state drives are durable, low-power, and capable of accessing and transferring data many times faster than a traditional hard drive. TheIntel 520 Series SSDis one of the best options currently available in terms of performance and its 180GB capacity should be plenty for an OS and wide assortment of applications and games.

Bose SoundLink Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

As smartphones and tablets have increased in popularity, many of us have loaded our devices with a myriad of media, including large music collections. If you want to play that music on something other than a pair of headphones or the tiny speaker built into your phone, the Bose SoundLink Wireless Bluetooth Speaker may be just what the doctor ordered. The Bose SoundLink can interface with any mobile device wirelessly over BlueTooth (or via a 3.5mm auxiliary jack) and provide up to 8 hours of play time on a single charge. Its compact design can fit virtually anywhere, but don’t let the small size fool you. The Bose SoundLink is easily capable of filling a room with rich audio.